empty Gate Zen Center
Empty Gate Zen Center offers in-person Zen meditation practice at our Berkeley, Boise, and Fairbanks locations, as well as online practice opportunities.
what we offer
Empty Gate Zen Center offers Zen meditation instruction to support clearing habitual thinking and awakening wisdom and compassion. We provide a daily practice schedule and regular monthly retreats, including one-day, three-day, and eight-day retreats. Our offerings also include Dharma talks and one-to-one sessions with our teachers: Zen Master Bon Soeng (Jeff Kitzes), Jason Quinn, JDPSN, and Marshall White, JDPSN.
In-person and remote options
We have locations in Berkeley, Boise, and Fairbanks. Can’t make it at one of our locations? No worries – we offer online practice as well.
Berkeley, CA
Boise, ID
Fairbanks, AK
MEET OUR TEACHERS
Guiding Teacher: Zen Master Bon Soeng
Since 1992, Empty Gate Zen Center has been led by Guiding Teacher Jeff Kitzes (Zen Master Bon Soeng). Jeff began practicing Zen in 1975, and began practicing with Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1979. In December of 1992, Jeff received inka, authorization to teach kong-ans (koans). In 2001, he received dharma transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn and was given the name Bon Soeng which means “Original Nature.” Jeff is also a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in the integration of Zen Buddhism and Western Psychotherapy.
Teacher: Jason Quinn JDPSN
Jason Quinn JDPSN grew up in California and began practicing in 1997 with the Kwan Um School of Zen in Seattle. He lived at the Providence Zen Center for ten years, where he held various staff positions, including Abbot. Jason trained as a monk for nine years, during which he sat many long summer and winter Kyol Che retreats, and took part in retreats around the world. He now lives in Santa Clara, CA with his wife, son, and daughter. Jason received inka in 2015 and is a teacher at the Empty Gate Zen Center and for the Kwan Um Online Sangha. Jason is the author of the book, No-Nonsense Zen for Beginners. You can find his teaching videos on his YouTube channel.
Teacher: Marshall White JDPSN
Marshall White JDPSN first became interested in Buddhism and Zen as a teenager when he started practicing the Japanese martial art Aikido and read one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s books. He began practicing Buddhism in college, and spent several years living in Asia, practicing Soto Zen in Japan and Tibetan Buddhism in India. On returning from Asia in 2000, he began practicing with the Kwan Um School of Zen. Marshall is a graduate of Naropa University where he met his wife, with whom he has two children. He is currently 6th degree black belt in Aikido and works as a professional hospice chaplain in the San Francisco Bay Area. Marshall received Inka on April 1st , 2023, from Zen Master Bon Soeng.
Support Empty Gate
Zen Center
Help us continue our efforts in sustaining our programs and keep providing a clear and supportive environment for people to come and practice. Please take a moment to consider a tax-deductible donation to support our ongoing activities
and readiness for future projects.